SINdicate: A BT Urruela FanFiction Novel: Cerberus MC Book 1.5 by Marie James Read Free Book Online Page B

details I ask, “Who do you owe that kind of money to?”
    His head jerks up like I’ve thrown something at him. “I can’t tell you that.” His eyes widen even further, “They’ll kill me.”
    “Look at you. Seems like death would be easier than the shit you’re dealing with now.” I should regret saying such a horrible thing. It may not have been drugs in my life, but I’ve been pretty fucking close to rock bottom myself. I know the kinds of thoughts he’s thinking. Only difference is, my rock bottom didn’t cause harm or even possible death to others.
    He nods his head as if agreeing that death would be easier. “Can you find her?”
    “I sure as hell will give it my best.” It’s an honest answer. I can’t be sure of much else until I know exactly what it is that I’m dealing with.
    I watch as he takes a small bag out of the front pocket of his shirt. “They call themselves the SINdicate.” He taps the bag, so some of the hard clumps fall out onto the scorched spoon I’d seen on the table earlier. Because getting high right now is the best thing for his daughter apparently. “They’re out of Vegas.”
    “What casino?” He ignores me as he scoops up the lighter from the table. “Stop!” I insist. “You’re not smoking that shit with me in here.”
    “Then get the fuck out,” he seethes. I can already see the tremble in his hand and know he’s not far off from losing it. He probably should have taken his next hit an hour ago.
    “Tell me what I want to know,” I say through gritted teeth.
    He ignores me for the last time, and I take a step forward just as he lifts the lighter under the spoon. I kick the shit out of his hands before he has time to strike the flint.
    “What the fuck have you done?” I shake my head, growing angrier every second, as I watch him scramble after the small pellets of dope on the disgusting carpet.
    “Tell me what I need to know, old man or I’ll take what’s left from your pocket.” He turns suddenly and clutches his dirty hand over the pocket on his shirt. I almost laugh because he looks exactly like Sméagol off of Lord of the Rings when he finally got his hand on the little, golden ring. Except this shit isn’t funny and Aviana’s life is in danger. If she’s still alive, comes to my head unbidden.
    “What Casino?”
    “It’s called The Golden Dragon.”
    “Never heard of it.” I’ve been to Vegas numerous times, and it doesn’t ring a bell.
    “It’s not on the strip. It’s mainly used by locals and people...” His voice trails off, but I see his fingers twitch against his chest.
    “You smoked two hundred thousand in dope?” I don’t even try to hide the disdain in my voice.
    “I gambled some too,” he says sounding affronted.
    “You went there looking for drugs?”
    “I went there broke. They found me, not the other way around,” he explains. This means they’re looking for people to get their hooks into.
    I nod, scenarios already running through my head. I need to get out of here and start putting a fucking plan together. I’m already days behind.
    “How long did they give you?”
    “Three weeks.” His fingers dip into his front pocket as if it’s second nature and the action is subconscious.
    “Mother fucker,” I mumble as I holster the Sig.
    “You going to go find my baby girl?” The packet of dope is already open and tipped over the top of the spoon.
    “You better be gone before I get back. This is the last fucking thing she needs to see after what you’ve put her through.”
    I leave him in the squalor of the apartment. I have more important things to deal with, and her useless father is the last fucking thing on my list.
    ***
    I make my way back to campus to get my truck. The dank air from the apartment clings to me, and the urge to head home to take a shower is almost too hard to resist.
    My first call is to my boss at the Academy. I tell him there’s been a family emergency, and I have to take a leave of absence.